Kamal Lohani loses battle against coronavirus

Veteran journalist and cultural activist Kamal Lohani died of coronavirus on Saturday. He was 86.

He breathed his last at Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital in the morning.

Kamal Lohani was moved to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Friday afternoon after his condition deteriorated.

On June 17, he was admitted to Health and Hope Hospital when his son Sagar Lohani in a Facebook post said his condition remained stable.

The veteran journalist had long been suffering from different old-age complications. He was hospitalised last month, too.

Born on June 26, 1934, Kamal Lohani received the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2015.

He served as the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from April 2009 to April 2011.

During the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, Kamal Lohani worked as the head of news of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.

He first worked as a journalist in the Daily Millat in 1955 and later joined Chhayanaut as its secretary in 1962.